Dates: 7-23 September 2009
Place: Gaborone, Botswana
Introduction
Since independence, Botswana has had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging 9 per cent per year from 1967 to 2005. In order to sustain this growth, it established a system of national development planning which is linked to subnational development planning through district development planning and physical planning of settlements and urban areas. However, the districts are faced with a problem of shortage of trained manpower, particularly in the area of project planning and management. All planners working for the government at the ministerial and district levels have a minimum first-degree level of education in planning. Beyond this, only a few have had opportunities to acquire new planning skills by attending specialized training courses to improve their planning capacity.
To address these challenges, the Government of Botswana requested the UNCRD Africa Office for technical assistance to enhance the skills and capacity of planners working for Ministry of Local Government, in the field of district and regional development planning. UNCRD, in partnership with UNDP, University of Botswana, and University of Nairobi, conducted the first phase of the training programme from 17 to 29 November 2008 in Gaborone, at which thirty-two planners from various districts were trained. Satisfied with the results and output of the first phase of the in-country training course, the Government of Botswana requested UNCRD to organize the second phase of the training course from 7 to 23 September 2009.
Objectives
Specifically, the programme hopes to achieve the following:
- To build the planning capacity of district planning staff and district officials in the implementation of development plans and projects as well as in monitoring and evaluating them;
- To build the capacity of ministerial staff and planners to give technical advice and guidance in district and local implementation of development plans and projects as well as monitoring and evaluation;
- To enhance the capacity of local authority officials and ministerial planners and project managers on project planning, implementation, and management;
- To develop practical skills for facilitating effective community participation in project planning, implementation, and management; and
- To strengthen the capacity of development and project implementation agencies and institutions for effective coordination of planning and implementation of development projects.
(Office: UNCRD Africa Office)